Car door elevating means



2 Sheets-Sheet C. LUTE 7 CAR DOOR ELEVATING MEANS Oct. 11, 1932.

FiledFeb. l, 1950 "j/A/VEN TOE- CHEL LUTE by flr'ry Oct. 11, 1932. c, LUTE CAR DOOR ELEVATING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1. 1930 tf/vvEA/To/e- (Hip i,

Patented Oct. 11, 1932 A UNITED S A PATENT OFFICE CARL LUTE OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CAMEL COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,

f ILLINOIS, A GORPQRATION'OF ILLINOIS ,cAniiioonlnLEvATnvs MEANS This invention relates to a ball bearing mounting for a sliding door primarily de ,signed for house cars and concerns itself with a novel'structure whereby the door may 7 be supported in frictional engagement upon its track against sliding movement or may be supported upon the ball bearings for rolling movement.

The invention comprises thenovel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described, and more particiularly. pointed and defined in the appended claims. 7 In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of thisinvention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views: I Figure l is a fragmentary sideelevational View of a door for a house car mounted according to this invention.

Figure 2is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line II II-of Figf ure 3.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevvational view of the lower central part of the :door. I e

- Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken upon the line IV-IV- of Figure 5 illustrating the door in its elevated position and supported by the rollermounting.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view similarto Figure 3 illustrating the door in its elevated position.

Figure 6 is an elevational view of a ,cam member positioned between the door and the roller mounting for elevating the door when it is desired to support the same upon the roller mounting.

Inreferring to the drawings, it will be noted that the track 1 is supported adjacent the lower margin of the door opening. A door 2 of any usual construction is adapted tobe supported upon this .trackby either frictional pads 3 (Figure 1) adjacent the ends of the door or upon a roller mounting which is connected to the door for relative "longitudinal and vertical movement. The roller mounting consists of a longitudinally 7 extending V-shaped raceway At which has a depending wing 5 which extends contiguous to the outer surface of the door as shown more clearly inFigures 2 and 4. The depending wing of the raceway 4 is provided with a plurality of rectangular apertures 6. A substantially triangular cam member 7 is located in each aperture 6 and is pivoted to the door upon a stud 8. In referring to Fig ures 5 and '6, it will be noted that each cam member? has a pair of lobes at its base which normally rest in slight depressions formed in the bottom of the apertures 6. A plurality of bearing balls 9 are located in Y the raceway 4 for relative longitudinal movement thereof and for travelling engagement upon the track 1 and supporting the door thereon when the same is elevated so that the friction pads 3 no longer engage the track.

These rolling elements 9 may be retained in suitable retainers or spacers, and to this end there is shown a retainer and spacing element 10 which consists of a wire rod having upwardly ofiset spherical recesses 12 for receiving the bearing balls 9. A Z-bar 13 is attached to the lower portion of the door and extends longitudinally thereon above the ball raceway 1. A yoke 1a is rigidly secured tom the raceway 4 andextends through a slot in the web of the Z-bar 13. The upper portion of the yoke 14 is provided with a laterally ofiset bearing boss 15 upon which a lever 16 is journalled intermediate its edges. The depending flange of the Z-bar 13 is also cut .away adjacent the lever 16 and a plate 17 whichis attached to the Z-bar, 13 spans this cut away portion. This plate 17 is provided with a vertical slot 18 for receiving a lug 19 upon the lower end of the lever 16 whereby a lost motion connection is provided between the lever and the Z-bar 13 which constitutes a rigid part of the door. This 'lo st motion connection allows the lever 16 to shift the raceway 1 relative to the door. During such shifting movement of the raceway 4, it is desirable to maintain the depending wing 5 in proper position and for this purpose a'suitable plate 20 is attached to the door insuitable spaced relation to receive the wing 5 and the cam 7 therebetween. It will be noted that a plurality of such plates 20 are used, one at each aperture 6 in the depending wing.

Normally the door is supported upon'the cend by its own weight until it is againsup- V track 1 by means of the frictionpads 3 against any sliding movement due to the sudden start-' ing or backing of the car. When it is desired to elevate the door in order that it may be supported upon the roller mounting ffOI' Sllding or rolling movement, the operator will grasp the'handle 16 and pull the same in one direction. Assume that it has beenpulled to-.. wardtheleftas shOWn in Figure 5, the raceway 4 will be'moved to the left due ,to the fact that the lower end of the lever is anchored in the slot 18. As theraceway 4 is" either its opened or closed position. As soon as the lever 16 is released, the door, will desported upon its friction pads.

' I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a widerange without departing from the principles of this invention, and .I'therefore do not purpose necessitated by the prior art;

i I claim as my invention:' 7

I. The combination with a track, of adoor having means for frictionally engaging said track, a \l-shaped ball runwaycarried by said door for relative longitudinal movementwith respect thereto, and means between said door andirunway responsiveto said longitudinal movement for elevating said door 'and'roll- .ing means in said runway for supporting said door uponsaid track in its elevated po-.

sitionl 4 I 2. The combination with a'track, of a door having means for frictionally engaging said track in its lowered position, a ball retainer carried bysaid door, balls in said retainer for travelling movement upon said track, said retainerand dooribeing mounted for relative longitudinal movement, and means between said door and retainer responsive to such longitudinalmovement for elevating said door 7 for the" purpose set forth. f 3. The combination with atrack, of a door limiting the patent granted, otherwise than mounted for movement toward and from said track, means upon said door for frictionally supporting the same in its lowered position upon said track, a ball'runway carried by saiddoor, balls in said runway for travelling movement uponsaid track when saiddoor is in its elevated position, said doorand runway being connected for relative longitudinalfmovement and means between said door and runway responsive to such relative longi- I tudinal movement for elevating saiddoor.

4'. The combination with a track, of a door mounted for movement toward and from said track, frictional means carried by said door sameca n'be slid or rolled upon its track to for engaging said track in its lowered position, a ball raceway. carried by said door,

balls in said raceway for travellingmovement upon said track, said raceway having a de pending wing connected to'sa-iddoor for rel-.

ative longitudinal movement, said'wing hav- 1 ing cutoutportions, cams mounted in said cut out portions and "pivoted to said door for the purpose set forth.- .7

5. The combination with a track,of a door having means for friotionally engaging said track, a ball raceway carried by said door,

balls mounted in said raceway, said raceway having a depending portionfpositioned adjacent said door, said depending portion'hav-' ing cut out portions, cam membersmounted in said out out portions 'and'pivoted to s a1d door, a lever pivoted to saiddoor and having a connection with said raceway for causing relative movement between said door and raceway whereby said cams; may elevate the door 'relative'to said track. 1 V

6. The combination with atrack, of a door having pads for engaging said'track, a roller raceway mounted upon said doorrfor relative longitudinal movement, balls mounted in said raceway for travelling movement 'upon said-track, and ac clever having a connection with said door and race way for'the y I '95 V purpose setiforth. I v

7 The combination with a track,of a door having friction pads for engaging said track,

aball' raceway carried by said door for rel-, ative movement with respect thereto, and

'movable members between" said door and" raceway for elevating said door through suchv relative movement of said door and raceway. I 8 The combination with a track, ofa door mounted upon said track for raising aria-law} ering movement, friction pads uponsaiddoor' for engaging" said track when said door is lowered, anti-friction means carried by said door for'supporting the same upon said track when said door is'elevated, a racewayfor said 'anti-frictlon means, and means for "causing relative longitudinal movement between said racewayand door, and cams betw'een said door and raceway for causlng relative vertical movement between'said door'and race- .way.

. 9; The'combination'with trackeof a door having frictional pads for'engagingsaid track, a ball'raceway having adepen ding flange with apertures, cam members mount; ed in said apertures andplvoted toisaid door,

balls supported in said raceway for travelling movement upon saidtrack,'a support upon salddoor, a lever having a lost motion conlQrThe combination with door, a ball bearingmo'unting between said nectionwith said support, means for kcon V necting said lever and raceway whereby the latter may be shifted relative to the door for actuating said cams, for elevating "the, door for the purpose set forth.

a traclf, of 13o door and track, means for causing relative longitudinal movement between said ball 7 bearing mounting and door, and means set in motionby said relative longitudinal movement for elevating said door for supporting the same upon said-ball bearing mounting and track.

11. The combination with a track, of a door, a ball bearing mounting between said door and track, means for connecting said ball bearing mounting and door for limited relative longitudinal movement, said means serving to elevate the door during said rela' tive longitudinal movement.

12. The combination with a track, of a door having frictional means for engaging said track, a ball raceway carried by said door, balls mounted in said raceway for relative longitudinal movement thereof, said raceway having a depending wing with apertures, elevating members in said apertures and pivoted to said door, a support upon said door, a lever pivoted upon said support and means connecting said lever and raceway.

13. The combination with a track, of a door having frictional means for normally engaging said track, a ball retainer extending along the lower margin of the door, spaced balls mounted in said raceway for relative longitudinal movement thereof, said retainer having portions extending adjacent said door, said portions having apertures, door elevating members pivoted to said door and located in said apertures and means for causing relative longitudinal movement between said door and raceway for causing said members to elevate the door.

14:. The combination with a track, of a door having frictional means normally engaging said track, a ball raceway carried by said door, spaced balls mounted in said raceway for relative longitudinal movement, means for causing relativelongitudinal movement of said door and raceway and elevating members between said door and raceway for elevating the door during such relative longitudinal movement.

15. The combination with a track, of a door having frictional pads for normally engaging said track, a roller raceway mounted upon said door for relative longitudinal movement thereof, and for travelling movements upon said track, means for causing relative longitudinal movement between said door and track and means between said door and raceway responsive to such last mentioned movement for elevating said door.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, Cook county,

Illinois.

CARL LUTE. 

